Payet has been one of the revelations of the Premier League season so far, scoring 11 times in 30 appearances in all competitions from midfield and generally being one of the stand-out players in England on a weekly basis.

However, the 28-year-old missed out on Deschamps' squad earlier this season, a decision which he explained as being based on the fact that the former Marseille man typically has not replicated his club performances on the international stage in recent years.

That decision was met with derision from Hammers fans and neutrals alike, and after Payet netted a last-gasp winner over Everton at Goodison Park and followed it up with a fine free-kick at Old Trafford earlier this month, he has finally been rewarded with a first call-up in nine months.

Deschamps, the French captain when the nation won the 1998 World Cup on home soil, admitted that Payet's consistency and impressive goal return have been too good to deny the midfielder a place in his squad.

He told reporters, as quoted by the Standard: "Dimitri made a very good season with great consistency in his performance."

"We see it with West Ham playing the top of the table in England. He scores goals. That's why he's here, he comes back."

Payet has 15 caps in total for his country since making his senior international debut in October 2010 whilst a Saint-Etienne player, but has not featured for Les Blues since a friendly against Albania in June.

The playmaker has already been named as London footballer of the year, beating rivals such as Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Arsenal's Mesut Ozil, and he is tipped as one of the favourites to win recognition as either the PFA or FWA Premier League player of the year for his superb debut season in England.

Payet's form has been a key driving factor of West Ham's successful season, with the Irons currently sitting in fifth, just a single point off a place in the top four.

Tom Nightingale

After starting to write about football due to lack of any great ability on the pitch, Tom is an NCTJ-qualified sports reporter who has written for Swansea City, the Birmingham Mail, and numerous other publications. An avid Aston Villa fan, he still hasn't got over them not turning up in the 2015 FA Cup final.